Wagga trainer Chris Heywood hasn’t ruled out a trip to Oaks Day at Flemington next week after his consistent galloper, Not Too Sure, claimed the $35,000 Stan Sadleir Stakes (1400m) on Friday.
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The eye-catching grey qualified for Gundagai’s Snake Gully Cup in two weeks but Heywood said he could yet play a part in the Melbourne Cup carnival next Thursday.
“That gets him into the Snake Gully Cup, which was always our goal,” Heywood said.
“We’ve actually got him nominated for the greys race at Flemington on Oaks Day. Whether we go there or not, that’s another thing. We’ll see. Monday is acceptances so it depends how he pulls up.”
Heywood agreed a trip to Flemington would make his spring (“Wouldn’t it what!”).
He’d already made sure his name was all over the Sadleir Stakes at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club, winning the feature race he also sponsored.
The Wagga trainer held naming rights this year and Not Too Sure ($19) went one better than last year when beaten as a 100-1 shot.
The nine-year-old wasn’t triple figure odds but he was almost unwanted in the betting as the money came for Gary Colvin’s Noble Descent, backed from $4.60 into odds-on.
The $1.95 favourite was finishing quickly but Not Too Sure held on to win by a length-and-a-quarter.
“It means a lot. This horse tries so hard,” Heywood said. “Brad Vale rode him his first two starts this prep and rode him a treat. We only took him off because we had 61.5kg… I promised Brad as soon as he gets back in the weights, he’s yours.”
Vale settled the horse fourth in a race with just enough speed and then shot clear in the straight. After four thirds and a fourth this preparation, it was satisfying.
“He’s been so honest all prep. He was very unlucky at Canberra (when fourth) and he just tries,” Heywood said.
“I knew we had (Noble Descent) covered because we were in front and he’s hard to get past. Not many horses get past him.”
Goulburn galloper Ruthless Agent was another length away third.
The race honours legendary local racing administrator Stan Sadleir who was on the MTC committee from 1960 to 1984 and treasurer of the SDRA for 35 years.
Moruya trainer John Marzol’s Titian Storm ($61) caused a boilover in the $40,000 Riverina Signmakers Country Maiden Plate beating Refire (trained by Danny Williams) and favourite Monterey Zar (Gary Colvin).
The Colvin stable had success in the first when Tully Toff was an impressive winner in the opening maiden as jockey Nick Heywood guided the four-year-old to his first win at start number eight.
Goulburn trainer Mark Gee’s Irenic ($2.30) won the Mountaineer Cup Prelude (2500m) which leads in to the two-mile race at the MTC on November 26.
